Biographical Sketch

Acequia de Nuestra Senora de Belen, a community-owned and operated ditch, was constructed in 1905 by farmers in the area between Belen and Isleta, New Mexico, to convey irrigation water from the Rio Grande. The property owners located along the ditch formed an association for the purpose of regulating the distribution of ditch water. It was one of many such small ditch associations formed in New Mexico. Water rights were contingent upon an owner working on the ditch. This usually involved cleaning the ditch and keeping it clear of weeds.

In the 1930s, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (an association of smaller irrigation and reclamation projects) sought to absorb the Belen Ditch. A court ruling left the shareholders in possession of the ditch and its water, but granted the district the right to distribute water to certain non-shareholders below the ditch, in exchange for a fee.

Scope and Content

Acequia de Nuestra Senora de Belen records date from 1912-1963. The bulk of the material dates from 1922-1956. Many of the materials relate to the cleaning and maintenance of the ditches by the ditch association members, and to the relationship of the association with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, which attempted to take over the ditch in the 1930s. The records are contained in three series: General Files, Ledgers and Journals, and Record Books.

The General Files series contains bills and receipts from the 1950s and four folders of election ballots for the same decade. Legal records include court decisions relative to the Belen Ditch and newspaper clippings outlining the Association rules.

The Journals and Ledgers series consists of bound employee and member accounts from 1922 to 1954.

The Record Books series includes a notebook filled with meeting notes, a partial legal writing on New Mexico law, a 1926 certificate book and receipt books from 1924-1926, 1928 and 1949.

Primarily in English, with small amounts of material in Spanish.

Restrictions

Access and Use Restrictions

This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with copyright and other applicable statutes.

The copyrights associated with these records have not been transferred to New Mexico State University.

Administrative Information

Acequia de Nuestra Senora de Belen. Records. Ms 57. Archives and Special Collections. New Mexico State University Library.

RG78-33 Tibo J. Chavez

Access Terms

Belen (N.M.) -- History -- 20th century

Ditches -- New Mexico

Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (N.M.)

Rio Grande -- Water rights

Valencia County (N.M.) -- History -- 20th century

Water -- Law and legislation

Description of Series/Container List

General Files, 1934-1963

(11 folders)

Belen Ditch records, including correspondence, election ballots, employment and financial records and minutes. Arranged alphabetically by format.

Ledgers and Journals, 1922-1954

(14 folders)

Record Books, 1912-1956

(7 folders)